Pompeii

Pompeii was frozen in time. This happened because it was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Pompeii and Herculaneum (another roman city frozen in time) are located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Since this volcano was dormant for more than 1500 years, the residents of these towns were not aware of the dangers that threatened them. Around noon on August 24, AD 79, Vesuvius woke up. Melted rock turned into a foam that together with gases created cloud which got up to 15 kilometers in height.

The wind carried the cloud right at city and in the middle of the day it was dark as night. Burning pieces of rock mixed with air, cooled and solidified began to fall to the ground. It took only half an hour to reach it. The ash, pieces of pumice and other volcanic remnants soon filled the city in layers that were over 3 meters thick. Frightened residents did not know what it was. Many of them frantically fled, trying to take as much as they can with them. Slaves had to take their masters and their property.

Some of them fled, knowing that if they get caught, they will be sentenced to death. Somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 people managed to escape while about 2,000 of them stayed in the city and took refuge in the basement of their houses hoping to be redeemed.

Many people asked for help in prayer to many gods, and some chose a quick death by their own hand. But the house roofs, built to withstand stronger rain soon began to fall under the weight of volcanic debris.

Today it is possible to walk the streets and look at shops, home theater, gladiator school, forums and marketplaces. Because of the way it happened, today it is possible to see how they lived more accurately than in any other place. In one garden 17 casts made from air pockets were found during excavations. You can see a woman who is trying to defend protruding hands of fate, and other who opened his mouth because he did not have anything to protect his children. Details on people are best be seen in the House Vettii, home of two dealer brothers.

Even the flowers in the garden left precise footprints in the ashes, just like a drop of water that filled the cooling system of the atrium. The fully preserved frescoes were found in some rooms. Public and private murals throughout the city are considered as one of the greatest discoveries because they provide an insight into the daily life of this amazing city, its festivals and customs, and this can best be seen in a brothel, where above every door is a mini mural depicting the peculiarities of the person in it. If you are up for unusual destination and you love history then this is a place you should visit.